Fifth Generation

52. Dorwin Lavern BERNHARDT was born on 17 March 1923 in Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.^2,27,38,74 He appeared in the census in 1930 in Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.² He died on 11 November 2010 at the age of 87 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.⁷⁴

Obituary Notes: "Dorwin LaVern, Bernhardt, 87 of Tomah, died Thursday, Nov. 11, 2010, at Tomah Memorial Hospital. He was born on March 17, 1923, to Herbert and Mabel (Rosenow) Bernhardt in the Town of Tomah. He was united in marriage to Lila Mae Zellmer on Sept. 24, 1948, at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Wilton. She preceded him in death on June 17, 2001. Dorwin and Lila farmed in the town of Tomah from 1957 to 1978 and in May of 1978 they moved to Tomah. He also worked yearly during the cranberry season at the Otto Beltz Cranberry Marsh harvest. He was than employed by the town of Tomah for 8 years.

He was a faithful member of St. Peter Ev. Lutheran Church, Indian Creek. He was an avid outdoorsman who enjoyed both hunting and fishing. He also enjoyed watching the NASCAR races and cheering on his favorite teams, the Packers and the Brewers. He played the guitar and was a member of a polka band when he was younger. Dorwin also enjoyed visiting, playing cards, and spending time with friends at Kelseys. He was a devoted husband, a loving father, grandpa, and great-grandpa. He loved and was very proud of his family.

He is survived by two daughters, JoAnn (James) Cram of Tomah and Sara Schroeder of Madison; five sons, Kenneth of Tomah, Mike (Karen) of Janesville, Allen (Tina), Steve (Cathy) and Kevin (Maureen) all of Tomah; 13 grandchildren, Brian Cram of Eau Claire, Scott (Melinda) Bernhardt of Tomah, Wayde (Jen) Schroeder of Woodbury, Minn., Tyler Bernhardt, Aaron Bernhardt and Ryan Bernhardt, all of Tomah, Jesse Bernhardt, Justin Bernhardt, Josh Bernhardt, all of Janesville, Angie (Brad) Plueger of Tomah, Mandy (Mike) Talbert of Camp Douglas, Kimberly (Matt) Robertson of Tomah, Jenny (Ben) Williams of Altoona and Kayla Bernhardt of Tomah; 10 great-grandchildren; a brother, LaVern, of Tomah, a sister-in-law, Norma Bernhardt, of Tomah; nieces; nephews; other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Lila; a daughter, Barbara; a brother, Gerald; an infant sister and a sister-in-law, Bertha Bernhardt.

Funeral services will be held (today) Monday, Nov. 15, 2010, 11 a.m. at St. Peter Evangelical Lutheran Church, Indian Creek. Pastor Paul G. Heiderich will officiate. Burial will be in the Oak Grove Cemetery, Tomah. Relatives and friends called on Sunday from 4 until 8 p.m. at the Sonnenburg Family Funeral Home, 801 E. Monowau Street, Tomah and at the church on Monday from 10 a.m. until the time of the service."

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Dorwin Lavern BERNHARDT and Lila Mae ZELLMER were married on 24 September 1948 in Wilton, Wilton Township, Monroe County, WI.³⁰ Lila Mae ZELLMER, daughter of Friedrich ZELLMER and Emma BLOEDO, was born on 29 October 1926 in Wilton, Wilton Township, Monroe County, WI.^27,30 She died on 17 June 2001 at the age of 74 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.³⁰

Dorwin Lavern BERNHARDT and Lila Mae ZELLMER had the following children: